“Karina.” Karina shifted in her sleep and curled into a tighter ball as the whisper of her name disturbed her. She was certain it was just the currents playing tricks on her ears, and she was far too tired to bother rousing to check.

“Karina!” The sound was a bit louder, more insistent this time, and Karina’s eyes finally fluttered open when a warm hand was laid over the curve of her shoulder.

“Hmm?” she hummed as she slowly uncoiled from the curled position she had been sleeping in. Her jaws parted in a massive yawn and bubbles shot from her gills as she clamped her teeth together once more. She stretched her fins and then rolled from her side onto her back. Her eyes widened as she found Nero hovering directly above her. His dark purple-black gaze glistened in the pale moonlight filtering through the shallow water.

“Nero?” her brows furrowed and she pushed herself up as she gazed at him. “Is something wrong?” Instinctively, she looked around, but the rest of his pod were still slumbering peacefully. It had been almost two seasons now since they had joined up with his pod, and – while the loss of her own family was still a raw, bloody agony tipped open in her chest – Rebecca and Ixion, and all the others had been so overjoyed and incredibly welcoming when Nero returned, and they had given her a home without a second thought. It warmed her heart to feel like she had a place to belong. Not long after they had arrived, Nero’s pod had cleaved in two. They had outgrown their reef and hunting had been getting harder with so many to feed. Many of the Mer had wished to remain at the main grounds and migration routes they had been born and raised with. Rebecca and Ixion had gone with the smaller group so they would not be without a healer, and they were still travelling in search of a more permanent home. Karina was still adjusting to all the swimming, but it was fascinating to get to see new creatures and parts of the ocean after growing up on the same reef all her life. Her pod had been stationary, and since they did not travel or migrate, her waters had been all she had ever known before Nero had brought her to his family.

Since everything seemed fine, she could not fathom why he had woken her. As she started at him, he smiled and held out a hand. “Come,” he requested.

Karina glanced around again to make sure they were not going to disturb any of the others, then she took his hand and pushed off the sand. “Where are we going?” she whispered as they began swimming away from where the others were resting.

She squeaked in surprise as Nero wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close into an embrace. He nuzzled her neck and she hummed in content. Her eyes closed and she relaxed against him. “I thought it might be nice to spend some time together,” he murmured as he pressed his lips to the crook of her shoulder. “We have done so much travelling lately, there has been no chance to be alone.”

“It has not been all bad,” Karina reminded. She flicked her fins so he would not have to pull her as he led her further from where the pod was slumbering.

“No,” Nero agreed. He twined their fingers together and gave her hand a squeeze. “But there is something I wish to show you.”

It certainly piqued Karina’s interest. She had gotten to see so many new things lately, and many of them took her breath away. Nero delighted in discovering new wonders for her to experience, and she felt so special that he took the time. She was getting to see so much of the world for the first time and made even the simplest of things feel so unique.

The pod was currently resting near the edge of a shelf, and as Nero led her closer to the open water, Karina began to hesitate. It has always been a bit intimidating to swim in water where she could not see the sandy floor below her, but in the dark like this it seemed outright eerie. “Where are we going?” she inquired.

“You will see soon enough,” Nero assured her.

Once they left the shelf into open water, Nero dove sharply, and Karina squeaked in surprise as he towed her down with him. She chewed her lip as they continued swimming deeper. The water was rapidly growing darker as they descended, and she shivered. “Nero? I am not sure I like this,” she murmured. She could no longer see her hand in front of her face, but Nero kept a firm grip on her hand. He gave it a squeeze as she voiced her anxieties.

“It is alright,” he assured her. “We are keeping close to the shelf, and I can see. We will not be going much deeper.”

Karina twisted to glance back up, but she could no longer see the ledge they had initially dove off from. She pursed her lips and pressed tighter to his side.

“Just watch,” Nero encouraged as he pulled her deeper.

Karina frowned. She was not sure exactly what she was meant to be watching, given she could not see much of anything, but she reluctantly refocused her gaze forward as they swam deeper and deeper.

She was given her answer mere moments later when the water around her lit up. In a period of a few heartbeats, the water went from a dark, empty shadow to a vivid bloom of light. All around her, a plethora of sparkling lights began drifting up towards the surface. Karina’s lips parted with awe as she watched. The winking pieces of algae glistened in varying hues of blues and greens, and a few yellows. It was like floating through the expanse of sky above, surrounded by the millions of glowing stars. “Nero,” she breathed.

Nero snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her even closer. He sunk a bit further and Karina followed him, and after a moment, her tail brushed the sandy surface of a small ledge. She settled on it properly and leaned her head on his shoulder. A soft hum built in her throat as he hugged her.

“Well?” he prompted.

“It is beautiful,” Karina replied. She stretched out her hand and curled her fingers around one of the pulsing, blue, free-drifting plants. She pulled it close and then released it once more, watching it drift up past Nero’s nose and illuminating his face before spiralling up out of reach. She grinned brightly.

“I am glad you like it,” Nero hummed.

“I do,” Karina agreed. “How did you find this?”

“I have migrated before,” he pointed out. “I came down and checked last night when we arrived, but I already assumed the plankton would drift here. It does every night, but you see it best when you dive deep.”

“Well, I love it,” she decided. “Thank you.” She leaned her head back down against him, and then shivered. “I just wish it was not quite so chilly down here.”

Instantly, Nero’s other arm came around, grabbed her, and tugged her up onto his lap. She giggled as he wrapped both arms around her and nuzzled the back of her neck. “You do not have to come up with a silly reason to want to be close,” he teased. “I would hold you happily just because you wanted me to.”

Karina rolled her eyes, but twisted to press her cheek to his chest, and then returned her attention to the dazzling light show still going on around them. A content yawn split her maw and she smacked her lips before relaxing against him once more. “You are wonderful,” she murmured. “It is so pretty.”

Nero jostled her slightly as he shrugged, and one hand came up to rub her shoulder. She purred and nuzzled him back. “They are nice,” he commented. “But I have something that far outshines them.” He traced circles on her shoulder with the pad of his finger.

Karina flicked her fins and scoffed quietly. “Now you are the one being silly,” she taunted back.

“No,” Nero refused. “You are a far greater treasure than witnessing the glow of the plankton drift, but I do cherish the chance to experience it with you.”

Karina began to chuckle, and she twisted her head to gaze up at him. “You were so shy when we first met,” she joked.

Nero bowed his head and pressed his lips to hers. Karina’s purr deepened and she could feel Nero’s chest rumbling too.

Karina raised a hand and cupped his face, and she felt his fingers tangle in her hair. “I love you,” she mumbled into his lips.

“And I love you,” he replied. He lifted a hand to cradle her cheek and stroked his thumb over it. “You bring out the best in me. I only wish you had more confidence in yourself. You are amazing, Karina,” he insisted. He sighed and rested his chin on her head. “How are you doing?”

Karina’s heart sunk. “That is a hard question,” she whispered back. Her chest tightened and a deep ache spread through her at the reminder of everything that had happened in the last cycle. She was happy with Nero, always, and she was content with his family, but it did not soften the pain of her loss near enough, and sometimes it was overwhelming.

“You do not have to keep it all caged up inside,” he reminded. “I am always here, Karina. There are no secrets between mates, and I will always listen to the burdens of your heart. I feel the loss too, Karina, but I can only guess at how you must feel. Talk to me.”

Karina shook her head, then kissed his cheek when his brows dipped with concern. “Not now,” she whispered as she shifted to lean against him and resume watching the lights. “Right now, I am just happy to be with you. I want to savor this moment, not sour it. Let us watch for a while.”

Nero hummed in agreement and silence settled over them. Karina did not normally find silence comforting. She had spent a lot of time alone as a child, trying to stay out of the way and not draw attention. She loved her family, but she had not fit in will with those of similar age. Silence was often stifling for her, so she had learned to talk and smile at every opportunity she got, just to snuff out the quiet. But with Nero, for once the silence was different. It was soft and welcoming, and far from solitary.

Nero was quiet. He rarely conversed openly, except with her. Even then, when it was just the two of them, it was common for the conversation to lull. Karina had nothing to prove and Nero always accepted her and made her feel desired and cherished.

She flicked her fins as she watched the bioluminescent plankton continue its long journey from the dark, mysterious depths of the very bottom of the ocean. She could not imagine how cold and dark it must be down there. The weight of the water was surely crushing, and yet she knew from stories of travellers that there were Mer who dwelled that deep. They were apparently very different, with condensed bodies that glowed with pulsing lights just like the plankton.

She was occasionally curious about them, but she had no desire to plunge down that far. Though she knew she would go anywhere and brave anything with Nero by her side. She always felt safest with him. He brought out the best in her too.

She shifted off his lap and rolled onto her side to nuzzle against him.

He chuckled and hugged her closer. “You are tired,” he noticed.

Karina flicked her fins and shook her head, even as she yawned. She hated that it was noticeable. “No, I am fine.”

Nero’s laughter grew to a chortle. “You are falling asleep,” he teased.

She shook her head and reopened her eyes. She did not remember closing them. “No, I am just comfortable. I am watching,” she protested, but the lights were beginning to fade as the plankton continued past them.

Nero shifted, and then his arms were wrapping around her and shifting her. “Alright, time to get you back,” he decided. He drew her close against his chest and pushed off from the ledge.

“Nero, no,” Karina protested. “We can stay, I am fine.” She squirmed in his grasp. Her tail was draped over his arm, but he was holding her firmly and she would have to genuinely resist to break his grip. “You do not have to carry me.”

Nero kissed her cheek and continued swimming up. “I do not mind,” he assured her. “I get to be closer to you this way.”

Karina’s heart fluttered in her chest, but she still squirmed a little. She did not want to be a burden on him. She already had lower endurance and speed, and no hunting skills. She was fairly certain his pod quietly found her incompetent and simply said nothing out of respect for him. She wanted to prove she could be even slightly independent. “But I-ump.” Her protest was cut off as he kissed her again.

“Karina? Let me have this,” he requested.

Karina smiled. She suspected he was only trying to make her feel better about it, and simply being overprotective in carrying her, but he was incredibly sweet. “Oh, alright,” she huffed, though she could not keep the wide smile off her face.

“Stubborn girl,” Nero teased as he gave her another quick peck on the lips.

She would normally rise to the challenge, but she was feeling lazy and he was warm. Deciding to cave on the mock argument, she snuggled into his grip and listened to the steady drum of his heartbeat. She was incredibly grateful to have him.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “For showing this to me, and for always being here. I have needed you so much, especially the last few seasons. I do not know what I would do without you.”

Nero bent his head and pressed his forehead to hers, and she stared into his warm gaze. “Karina, you are my world,” he insisted. “I promised you that I wanted to hold you and never let go; I intend to make good on that.”

Karina’s heart swelled and she sat up just enough to hug him fiercely. “Only if I get to hold you too,” she murmured in his ear.

“I would not want it any other way.”